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Lt. Governor Helps Open Blue Shore Fisheries

Lt. Governor Helps Open Blue Shore Fisheries
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By West Kentucky Star Staff
Oct. 06, 2015 | FARMINGTON, KY
By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 06, 2015 | 02:54 PM | FARMINGTON, KY
Lieutenant Governor Crit Luallen was in Graves County Tuesday to celebrate the opening of a new company working to turn invasive Asian carp in western Kentucky waterways into a wholesale foods business.

Blue Shore Fishery, LLC is investing more than $1.3 million into a former catfish-processing facility in Farmington, and will employ 66 people as it manufactures food products from Asian carp. Blue Shore is in an 11,000-square-foot facility on 53 acres off State Route 97 in Farmington.

Blue Shore’s products include surimi, a fish paste that can be used to make crab sticks, fishcakes and other foods, contain high-quality fish and fresh local ingredients with no fillers, additives or preservatives. The company plans to sell to wholesale markets in the U.S. and overseas, particularly in Asia.

Asian carp caught by local commercial fishermen from area lakes will be processed. 

The company plans to add 5,000 square feet at the facility in the future, and also owns two other facilities: RCB Fish Company in Ledbetter and Fin Gourmet in Paducah, a research and development operation.

“We at Blue Shore Fishery have found Graves County to be a vibrant, resourceful and supportive partner,” said co-owner Dr. John Crilly. “We also would not be where we are today without the excellent work done by Riley Construction and all of their associated contractors and suppliers. We are excited for this former catfish processing plant to once again begin receiving fish – this time, wonderful ‘American Carp’ – and to begin production and exporting of our innovative products.”   

“Congratulations to Blue Shore Fishery on the opening of this facility in Graves County,” Lt. Gov. Luallen said. “Not only does this mean jobs for Kentuckians, but it’s expected to add to Kentucky’s record-breaking export figures. The Commonwealth exported $27.5 billion to nearly 200 countries last year, and we welcome this opportunity for growth.”

“In the last couple of years we’ve seen economic growth around the region as opportunities increase to take advantage of the Asian carp population in the Mississippi and Ohio rivers,” said Rep. Richard Heath of Mayfield. “I want to welcome Blue Shore Fishery to Graves County, and the jobs they are creating for our people.”

“I am so proud that Blue Shore Fishery has chosen Graves County as the site for its new processing plant,” said Graves County Judge-Executive Jesse Perry. “This is our next step in seeing Graves County grow and prosper. We have already seen an impact of Blue Shore Fishery’s influence with employment of local contractors and peripheral businesses. We look forward to the company’s continued growth and building strong ties with the community.” 

Blue Shore’s owners received assistance from the Kentucky Innovation Network Office in Murray. The Network helped the owners make connections for marketing and Web development, finding access to capital and exporting.

To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $1,000,000 through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the term of the agreement through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.  

An invasive species, Asian carp compete with native fish and are overpopulating.

More information about Blue Shore Fishery is available at www.blueshoreusa.com.

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